Sicona Battery Technologies, an Australian battery technology company, has received AU$45 million from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (Arena) to build and operate its first commercial-scale silicon-carbon battery anode material production facility in the Illawarra region. This investment will also see Sicona and BlueScope Steel Limited enter into an exclusivity agreement to evaluate the potential development of the facility within BlueScope’s Port Kembla precinct.
The new facility will significantly increase production of Sicona’s advanced silicon-carbon battery anode material SiCx. This will allow for the production of up to 230 tonnes per annum, supporting both advanced customer qualification and commercial sales.
The company claims its SiCx technology enhances lithium-ion battery performance by boosting energy density by over 20% and allowing for charging speeds more than 40% faster than conventional graphite.
Sicona’s technology is also compatible with existing lithium-ion battery production lines. This compatibility provides a clearer path to customer qualification, offtake agreements and commercial-scale supply with global battery and OEMs.
The Arena grant will be delivered under the Australian Government’s Battery Breakthrough Initiative. This initiative supports the growth of domestic battery manufacturing capability and strengthens Australia’s position in the global battery supply chain.
Sicona states the deal represents a validation of its technology as it transitions from development to commercial scale-up. Its materials are also being developed for applications across AI data centres, power tools, defence, robotics and other high-performance battery markets in addition to electric vehicles.
The capital injection will assist Sicona in achieving its goal of establishing sovereign battery materials manufacturing capability in Australia, demonstrating the country’s potential to compete in higher-value global battery supply chains.
Christiaan Jordaan, founder and CEO of Sicona Battery Technologies, said: “Arena’s support is a major endorsement of Sicona’s technology, our team, and Australia’s ability to build globally relevant battery materials manufacturing capability.
“Battery-powered industries need higher performance at lower cost. Our silicon-carbon anode technology is designed to deliver faster charging, greater energy density and a scalable pathway into existing lithium-ion battery supply chains.
“While EVs remain a major opportunity, some of the fastest-growing demand is coming from AI data centres, robotics, drones and power tools. These applications need high energy and power density today, and SiCx is designed to help meet that demand. The Wollongong facility will allow us to validate our process at commercial scale, deliver SiCx to customers, and accelerate our entry to multiple markets.
“It also shows Australia can do more than export unprocessed critical minerals. We can manufacture advanced materials, create skilled jobs, and compete in the high-value battery supply chains that will power the global energy transition.”
Sicona: next-generation battery technology to move Australia up the global supply chain
Darren Miller, CEO of Arena, said: “Sicona is developing the kind of next-generation battery technology that can help Australia move further up the global battery supply chain.
“Improving battery performance is critical to accelerating the uptake of electric vehicles and supporting the transition to a net zero economy.
“Sicona’s technology has the potential to deliver faster charging, longer driving range and lower-cost batteries. The technology has undergone independent testing and is already being evaluated by global battery manufacturers and electric vehicle companies, highlighting its strong commercial potential.
“By supporting Sicona’s Wollongong facility, Arena is helping build the domestic manufacturing capability Australia needs to turn battery innovation into commercial supply.”
The Wollongong facility’s development is expected to generate up to 36 skilled manufacturing jobs and support workforce development training and local industry partnerships.
This announcement follows a May 2025 licensing and strategic partnership with Himadri in India. This partnership includes an AU$17.5 million follow-on investment. Furthermore Sicona is also planning a 6,500 tonne per annum commercial facility with potential for longer-term expansion to 26,500 tonnes per annum.
